Unreleased Song by the Late Eric Wagner to Release in December
Posthumous releases of anything are haunting. Not just because the person passed, but also because the weight is just too sad to hold knowing that nothing else will come after it. Even though it’s not even out yet, I imagine this is the feeling that’ll come with the release of a previously unreleased single by Eric Wagner, the former frontman for Trouble who passed away back in August of 2021 due to COVID. Now, California label Ripple Music has announced that it’s going to release Eulogy, a two-single record that will include his final and previously unreleased song called “Nothing But Blue Skies.”
Set for release December 12 on a limited edition seven-inch vinyl, Eulogy will also feature a cover of Trouble’s “The Misery Shows (Act II),” this time performed by Eric’s solo band specifically for the purposes of being the record’s b-side.
Ripple Music’s founder Todd Severin commented:
“Last year, I was approached by the members of Eric Wagner’s solo band, entrusting me to release the last song Eric recorded, at the time of his solo album, but left off that record. The band really wanted the song to be heard, and recorded a cover of the Trouble song ‘The Misery Shows (Act II)’ to be the B side in honor of his memory. I spoke to some of Eric’s closest friends, and all were on board.”
Guitarist and producer Victor Arduini, who actually ended up contributing a solo section on the cover, had this to say:
“I was asked to contribute the solo section for a mostly acoustic demo that was considered for Eric’s last album, but was the odd song out and never completed. I also had a recording of ‘The Misery Shows (Act II)’ that was never fully finished, so I got Dave Snyder to record the drums, Chuck Robinson to record bass and acoustics, and my dear friend Kelly L’Heureux to add harmony vocals. The vocals of my partner in doom Brian ‘Butch’ Balich, who brought it all together. Both these songs are very spiritual in nature and have deep meaning to me. Eric spent his life not afraid to speak his faith in God, and I always connected with his insight and spiritual awareness. I’m blessed to be able to play a small part in this release alongside all the other musicians.”
While it’ll be an emotional time hearing “Nothing But Blue Skies,” it’ll be beautiful to witness where Wagner was creatively before we lost him.
